FAQ's

What makes a good toothbrush?

We consider a good toothbrush one that reduces bacteria levels to a point that the gums are healthy and the teeth free from decay.

 Are electric toothbrushes better than manual toothbrushes?

There is much research to show that some electric toothbrushes are better than manual toothbrushes under controlled clinical trials.  Much of the research has been conducted on the leading edge toothbrushes from Oral B and Sonicare.

As mentioned the research has been conducted under optimum conditions and do not take into account real life situations such as toothbrushes not being available for use as the charge has died or heads not being replaced on time.

Are there any advantages in using a manual toothbrush?

The biggest advantage has to be that they do not run out of charge and do not require a power supply.  Other advantages include that they are cheap to purchase and they are readily available in shops.

Is there a special way to brush with my toothbrush?

Cleaning your teeth is one of those things that most people are shown how to do at a very early age however to get optimum results one should read the instructions that come with electrical toothbrushes but also make allowances for the arrangement of your own particular teeth.

Cleaning with a manual toothbrush can be improved by using special techniques that your dentist can show you but this depends on the level of dexterity that you possess.

Are electric toothbrushes good for older people?

Electric toothbrushes can be very useful in helping elderly people clean their teeth.  The older generation may suffer from reduced hand grip and hence the larger handle of an electric toothbrush may be what is required to make the brush easier to use.

What would we consider the best manual toothbrush?

We would like to think that the crown for best manual toothbrush goes to the Sensodyne Search 3.5. This brush is not sold in shops but can be found in many dental practices.

What would we consider to be the best electric toothbrush?

The debate as to which toothbrush is better Sonicare or Oral B.  Both toothbrushes are excellent and the very existance of such a debate indicates the high standard of both these brushes.  Both Oral B and Philips (who make Sonicare) will point to clinical evidence suggesting that their toothbrush is better than the competition.

My personal preference would be that I would have either the Sonicare flexcare or the Braun Oral B Triumph (with or without the SmartGuide).

Do you still need to floss if you are using a good quality electric toothbrush?

The answer to this is very simple.  Yes.  There is no toothbrush in production that removes the requirement to floss daily.  The Oral B Triumph may give the impression of flossing due to the word floss action but read te small print and you will see that this does not mean that it cleans between the teeth.